Coke Increased 1998 Funding
By 54% to Its Largest Bottler

Coca-Cola Co. disclosed that it plowed $1.22 billion into its largest bottler last year, up 54% from the previous year.

The disclosure, in Coke's recently filed annual report, helps explain why the soft-drink giant's earnings were hurt so badly in 1998 and raises questions about whether Coke will slash such funding this year to boost its own bottom line. A reduction in marketing support to large bottlers, however, could damp Coke's case volume, which Coke seeks to increase 7% to 8% annually. (Case volume represents actual sales...